ZOOMBY

Hello Members :D ,

I will try and recreate my experience and time at the RX8 Nationals .
Firstly I have top say in all honesty, this was one of the Best W'ends in my entire life . One that will be remembered for a very very long time, and the only thing that can surpass this, can only be next years RX8 Nationals . But even then I will truely remeber this event for the rest of my time on this planet : )).

The journey to this wonderful event, started by me getting up and washing my car at 5am , Friday morning. Only to see rain drops put a slight dampener on things, but I was just able to get my car in my garage (but no serious rain over the w'end).

The rain passed and then it was time to meetup with Dave(Revolver) in the city, mind u I was already pumped about it all(NAT's) . Found Dave rite on time, then we were off to the 1st meet up point. My w'end almost ended b4 it started when we were in the tunnel, as a car almost collected me rite up when he locked up behind me (but that didn't surprise me4 sum reason lol)

Anyway we were off to the meetup point, we got there b4 any1 else. But then the RX8's started flooding the area, most of the NSW's guys followed by the QLD's and then a couple more. In total we had a convoy of 16 RX8's leave this meet-up point, and what a sight to see. Other drivers on this road would have thought that RX8's had invaded this road and even NSW's as there was so many of us. 1st stop the petrol station 20/25k's from Goulbourn, this was also very amusing, when paying for petrol("can I pay for the petrol in that Mazda please" hehehehehe lol)

Upon arrival we were greeted by more RX8's and the friendly nature of the Ladies and Gals in the Dining Area(and our show bags hat/shirt stickers and so on). I cannot express exactly how great there service and food was, above a 5* restaraunt thats 4sure in all aspects : )). Anyway many of us had our cars scruiteneered, and then we were off to the accomodation. The villas looked rite over the race track and what a site that was : )). The most surprising things was the number of rooms in these Villas, but they definitely were more than adequate.

Later that night it was time for dinner at the diner, where we met all members had a chat over some great food. This was a great time to meet the people we would normally speak to via these thread, and not face to face : )). Wildcard(S/C Hymee RX8) also arrived that nite and put on a bit of a reving show hehehehe lol, which was enjoy'd by all im sure(except 1 lol). Then it was back to the villas, and it looked like a few delivery trucks full of RX8's had been delivered and parked outside all these Villa's total 43 RX8's 8) . I think I got to bed at 12:45am, (sorry Joel(instructor) for keepin u up).

The morning was started by some1 reving there engine at 5am(Tim Tam, I was told). Thanks for the wake up alarm mate lol, Dave wanted to kill u hehehe : )). Anyway there was some early starters, Taka making final adjustments, some of the guys giving the cars a quick wipe up b4 the main show. And my car screaming at me "please wash me pretty please" hehehehehe, but I didn't fall 4it to my amazement.

Then it was off to the Diner for a top breakfast, that would easily keep us going to till lunchtime. Then came the moment we had all been waiting for, the drivers breifing. I was the lucky driver (accompanied by Joel my instructor) that was first on the race track on the day just b4 Ric Shaw RX8 when he was showing us what line's we should drive on the track. That was awsum in itself, we did a couple of laps then it was over to the instructors to show us how its was done.

Now came the time, we were all on our own : ))). In my first session I thing DSC saved me every corner hehehehehehe, only coz I wanted to see just how far I could go(and coz I didn't know what I was doin lol). Anyway as the day went on my times improved, although my tires now hate me lololol. By the time I was up for my last session, my tyres were goooooooooooone and I wasn't going to go on again, but I did lol : )). And I now have slicks on the back, as the grooves are also gooooooooooone lol.

It was also great to see the top graded cars out there struting ther stuff, Wildcards Beast/ Rotormasters Red Devils/ RX7 20B(very slow NOT!!) /Taka's Black modded wonder/Rod's stock eyelids machine/Macca's Yellow Flying 8. There was even Mikeyr Mini, on the track as he couldn't drive his 8 From NZ(that even showed some of us a thing or 2). There was also a real bad driving machine Cosmo 20B(WAR-20B), what a detailed engine and bay this thing has and what presentation : )). Mazda's Turbo 8 was also there but not tracked and even the new MX5. I even got to be a passenger in Wildcards S/C beast and Rotormaster RX8 SP S/C red machine 8) .

It was then time for Mazda to step up to the plate as sponsor of this event, and hand out to all participants a watch. This is no ordinary watch I tell ya, this is a $325.00 Rotary watch. The smiles on faces was almost as big as the smiles of driving their RX8's for the 1st time : ))))). It was then onto to Diner, and some more quality food and service. Followed by Awards and thankyou's to all organisers, and even some more free goodies : )).

At the end of the day we took part in the biggest RX8 photoshoot in Australias History, can't wait to see how they turned out. The photographers did an awsum job, I believe they had over 3,000 photos by then end of the day(or so sum1 said). I was lucky enough to be on the front row for the group photo's : ))). My camera was broken so Unfortunately I was unable to take any photo's : (.

That nite I had about 4 1/2 hours sleep as the party was in Villa no:3, and partied well into the nite. Hymee even created a new product coming soon............ the Hymee enhanced drink holder with aerodynamics to boot and of course the Hymee Sticker hehehehehehe lol. The next morning we were off to the diner for the final Breakfast, b4 Melbourne members went there separate ways. This was a slightly sad part of the day, as it had all come to an end. Makes me wonder just how much longer people would have stayed if there was no time frame hehehehe lol.

There were 8(6xNSW & 2xACT) members that continued on this awsum w'end, not wanting it to finish. We cruised thru to Fitzroy Falls, and then onto Robertson for some lunch. And then It was time to say some more goodbye's, and then back to Sydney in a convoy of 5 RX8's.

Well the above story is long, but everything in this thread was definitely worth mentioning thats 4sure. And If I really wanted 2, I could have made it longer but I think this is suffice.

Now onto the Thankyou's, Tim(Timbo) what can I say mate : )). U pulled it off mate with style and finess, it couldn't have gone any better. If I had an award to give u I would have done so, as all those hours all the efforts all the organisation..... THANKYOU TIM (sorry for shouting, but it had to be said loud). Also there's a big thankyou to the other state coordinators, u guys also put in the hard yards to make this happen, so thankyou to u all (u know who u r).Macca for organising the track side duties, also thankyou to Mazda Australia(for mi beaut watch, and sponsorship : )), thankyou also to Hymee/Rotormaster, and a big thanku to Joel for being my instructor and room mate,and photographers, and the ladies n Gals in the Diner. Also a big thankyou to all the people involved in getting my RX8 brake light Mod to become a reality (im not much of a handy man), so I appreciate it alot, thanks Taka for the RX8 stencils too and assistance : )).

What a w'end this truely was, timing aside every1 had a great time, there were smiles everywhere u looked. Thankyou all it was great meeting every1 also, and I look 4ward to the RX8 Nationals 2006. See U all there, and Tim(Timbo) I was serious about giving u a hand in organising it next year, as it would be my pleasure : )))).

Over n out,
Waldo/ZZOOM/ZOOMBY

Wildcard

Great post Waldo. Hard to top that! You can be the PR man for next year.

If you are apologising to Jol for keeping him up until 12:45 on Friday night, I don't know what I am going to say about keeping him up until 4:25 on Saturday night! Sorry Jol if you are watching. I hope I didn't tell you too many national secrets....

ZOOMBY

Thanks mate , yeah I sort of kept him up a bit longer than that, then woke him up an hour earlier the next morning(oopz, coz I couldn't sleep). And I heard about u 2 staying up a little longer the next nite . He is nice bloke, so im sure he didn't mind too much otherwise he would have kicked me and u out of the Villa .

Revolver

Good job Waldo - captures all the salient features of the weekend I reckon.

takahashi

Thanks. I am glad that you like it

Revolver

I'm grateful too Taka!

Hey, between the stock badging, Choppy's sticker and the brakelight mod, do you reckon people behind me will still wonder what kind of car it is?...

Oh, just saw this smilie for the first time - :boobies: . Hmm, now how can I use it? Who isn't having fun with these new toys!

EZZY

zoomby is now our resident past event reporter as well.....
well done, good job.....
i think i might have another one for ya...

timbo

Well, you saying that just makes my day...and sets a challenge!

ZOOMBY

Thanks Dave , had to put it down in writing just how much fun we had , too match the photo's

ZOOMBY

Yes Taka , I love it . I had been waiting along time for this mod

ZOOMBY

Thanks Eric , and no worries always glad to report precise details

ZOOMBY

Well deserved Tim , every word of it Thanx mate .

And don't worry its a big challenge but it can be done (somehow ), and I will help u do it

mikeyr

Great stuff Waldo! For your first time on a track really damn impressive! I reckon Taka better watch his rear view mirror cause by next year you're gonna be his bumper sticker!!!

ZOOMBY

Thanks mate , I tried really hard the 1st session but DSC saved me quite a bit. The rest of the sessions I really tried in making it a hell of a lot smoother and that worked wonders and improved my time . I think I still need a fair bit more practise but my time will improve, and I mite just bring along my current slicks along . The last session I was just trying to save my tyres

It was great to meet u mate , and im glad u made the trip over. That shows true spirit to join the gang in this magnificent event .

Revolver

Speaking of which, you involved in the State of Origin against the Amberley boys (let me guess - they get called the Shambles right?) this week Wildcard?

Better not let your squadron know your car has a Queensland heart!

Go the roaches.

Wildcard

I could tell you but then I'd have to kill you....

EZZY

yep....

Revolver

How did I know you were going to say that.

I don't need to know that badly.

Revolver

Let me guess , hot phone sex?

Revolver

Que?

Timbo was the one who invoked the tour rule - my life is an open book.

And 'P' word? Huh? Can't remember saying anything controversial (other than that Tim Tam is really a bearded woman but I think we all figured that out anyway).

Relax - nothing salacious happened. At least, not in my presence it didn't.

Revolver

I think you've been studying too hard Kall.